1. Orientation to Pharmacology
Chapter 1
Orientation to Pharmacology
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2. Orientation to Pharmacology
Define the following terms
Drug
Pharmacology
Clinical pharmacology
Pharmacotherapeutics
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3. Properties of an Ideal Drug
Effectiveness
Safety
Selectivity
Reversible action
Predictability
Ease of administration
Minimal drug interactions
Low cost
Chemical stability
Possession of a simple generic name

4. Intensity of Drug Responses
Multiple factors influencing drug response are
Administration
Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacodynamics
Individual variations

5. Pharmacokinetics The four major pharmacokinetic processes are
Drug absorption
Drug distribution
Drug metabolism
Drug excretion

6. Pharmacodynamics The impact of drugs on the body once a day has
reached its site of action

7. Therapeutic Objective
Drug therapy should provide maximal benefit with minimal harm